MTA-NYTC begins camera surveillance security test

In a pilot project designed to improve customer and employee security, MTA-NYTC has installed video surveillance equipment onboard four cars of a 10-car subway train which, starting today, will operate along the system's lettered lines through early 2011. It could lead to implementing the Closed Circuit Television System throughout the subway fleet, said Steven Feil, senior vice president, Department of Subways.

The test train has also been retrofitted with new handholds and with rush-hour, flip-up seating that would increase capacity by 19% per car. However, deployment of the latter feature is not now being considered.

"Video camera systems have clearly been shown to help deter criminal activity on transit vehicles and we believe strongly that they can also be extremely valuable in investigating accident injury claims," said NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast. "But we must also acknowledge the potential threat of terrorist activity on public transportation vehicles and CCTV has been instrumental in helping with investigations in this area."

NYCT said the system was manufactured and installed by TOA Corp. and consists of 16 cameras, four in each car. There is one DVR (Digital Video Recorder) for each set of cameras and four NCUs (Network Controller Units) for transmitting the video signals between cars.

"The CCTV System will be evaluated for its recording quality and car-to-car transmission of video signals within the subway environment," "said Feil.

A video surveillance decal will be visible on each car to alert passengers that they may be videotaped.